San Marcos celebrates Cajun culture with barn dance

SAN MARCOS -- San Marcos resident Elizabeth Ackles pushed her
walker across the hardwood floor Saturday night at the Williams
Barn in Walnut Grove Park, smiling as she moved to the infectious
rhythm of zydeco folk music -- a fusion of accordion, drums,
washboard and guitar.

"I love this music, it keeps me going," said the 85-year-old
woman as she shrugged her shoulders and tapped her feet to the
fast-paced beat.

Ackles was one of more than 150 residents who turned out to eat
spicy gumbo and dance to the sounds of the Bayou Brothers band
during the second Cajun Zydeco Barn Dance.

Decorated with plastic beads and purple, green and gold
tablecloths, the Mardi Gras-themed dinner and dance was a joint
effort by the San Marcos community services department and the
Kiwanis Club of San Marcos. The goal was to raise money for child
safety programs, literacy efforts and other community events, said
Cathy Cronin, recreation supervisor for the city.

"A lot of people in our community are into zydeco music and
Cajun culture," said Cronin. "It's just a big party."

Cronin said residents usually have to travel quite a distance to
find an event that features zydeco music, so she was glad to be
able to bring something unique to San Marcos.

"It's definitely a way to celebrate Mardi Gras locally without
all the craziness," said Cronin, adding that the celebration was
nonalcoholic. "It's our little party out in North County."

Before the Bayou Brothers took the stage, some attendees munched
on a home-cooked Cajun meal of cornbread, gumbo and red beans and
rice, while others formed a circle on the barn's hardwood floor,
eager to get a quick lesson on zydeco two-stepping.

"Having dance lessons takes the edge off being nervous," said
Carrie Clevers, secretary of the San Marcos Kiwanis Club, as she
surveyed the room.

Vista resident Eileen Ford and her husband, Roy, sat on the
sidelines, watching couples spin and slide across the floor.

"It looks like a lot of fun," said Ford.

Encinitas resident Stella Ramos said she has been following
zydeco music for about five years and wanted to come back for this
year's celebration because she had such a good time at the city's
first barn dance.

"It's a great venue," she said, tapping her toes under a table
before finally getting up to boogie. "It's so roomy, and the floor
is great to dance on. I didn't come here to sit down."

Carrie Clevers said she was delighted everyone was enjoying
themselves.

"It's just a grand time," she said, "You can't help but love the
music."